CONTACT US!
For more information, contact us via email at mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Rosenstiel School
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy,
Miami, Fl. 33149
305-361-4850
Fax: 305-361-4755
  e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

This site
prepared and designed by
Mark Sell Communications, Inc. Public Relations

Tish Burgher, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Paul Freck, Freck Ent. and Mike Conner, Gilbert Southern, provided the Greenways subcommittee with the plans for replacing the I-95 bridge fender system and restoring the River’s south shoreline beneath I-95 in Jose Marti Park.  The contractors stated the work would require no closures of the River’s Federal Navigable Channel.  While the north fender system is being replaced, the barge may be moved with minimal notice to accommodate large vessels under tow.  The contractors exchanged contact information with Captain Beau Payne, P&L Towing, and Dr. Fran Bohnsack, Miami River Marine Group.  Mr. Jose Casanova, City of Miami, stated the shoreline replacement will be followed by the extension of the existing Greenway in Jose Marti Park, beneath I-95.

The Greenways subcommittee discussed the Miami River Greenway development report, which was requested on December 12, 2002 by a unanimous City Commission motion to be delivered within 30 days.  Brenda Marshall, Trust for Public Land (TPL), stated their consultants completed Greenway schematics and were still awaiting City of Miami approval, in order for TPL to contract with the consultants for construction engineer documents, funded through TPL’s $2.5 million Knight Foundation Greenway grant.  Brett Bibeau, MRC, stated FDOT Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Item #2512621 in the amount of $1.26 million was originally scheduled for completion by the 2002-2003 Fiscal Year (FY), and was amended at the City’s request for completion by the end of FY ‘03-’04.  As FDOT has indicated additional extensions are unlikely, this $1.26 million of FDOT Greenway funding will be retracted unless the City of Miami submits construction documents by June 2003.  Dianne Johnson, City of Miami, stated the City administration has been hesitant to approve the schematic design and authorize commencement of construction documents, because the project is too expensive.  Bibeau stated there are sufficient funding sources available to fund many sections of the adopted Miami River Greenway Action Plan, including:

• FDOT TIP #4105781, $1million
• FDOT TIP #2512811, $900,000
• FDOT TIP #2512621, $1.26 million
• FDOT TIP, “East Little Havana Greenway”, $1,000,000
• City CIP #322064, “Riverside Riverfront Redevelopment”
• City CIP #322066, “Lummus Park Historical and Cultural Village”
• Knight-Foundation Grant awarded to TPL, $2.5 million
• Homeland Defense and Neighborhood Imp. Bond Issue, “Greenways”, $2 million
• Florida Department of Env. Protection, RTP, $100,000
• Villager’s, Inc., $25,000

The following additional funding sources should be considered:

• Various Citywide Street and Sidewalk repair City CIP line items
• DDA for Greenway sections within their existing special taxing district
• Creation of a minimum 10 year, 50 % Miami River Tax Increment Financing District for Greenways development and dredging outside the Federal Navigable Channel.
• Portion of transportation ½ penny sales tax        

Dianne Johnson and Enrique Nunez stated they would provide current balances on the CIP numbers and provide additional information for the available Greenways funding matrix.  Johnson noted that one objective of the City Commission requested Greenway development report is indicating a section of the Greenway ready to move forward in each of the four districts the Greenway traverses, yet unfortunately none of the available funding is within Commissioner Gonzalez’s district.  Bibeau responded that Sewell Park is in Commissioner Gonzalez’s district, and it’s old Greenway path, which is in dis-repair, could be improved by utilizing available funds from the Sewell Park CIP or Homeland Defense and Neighborhood Improvement line items.  Historical signage at the Park could be funded from the available Villagers, Inc. grant.  The City representatives stated they liked the idea and would look further into it.   

The Greenway’s subcommittee discussed the unanimous City Commission allocation of $4.1 million dollars to the Related Group for development of the Miami River Greenway and trailhead at the One Miami project site.  The unanimous allocation is to be taken from the Homeland Defense and Neighborhood Improvement Bond Issue’s Downtown Infrastructure line item, and be refunded by 50% of the new ad-valorum tax revenues generated by the One Miami project.  Dianne Johnson stated the City administration may seek grant funding to refund the bond line item.

The Greenways subcommittee agreed to return to their regularly scheduled meeting schedule, the second Monday of every month, 9 AM, Miami River Inn, 118 S. River Drive.  

   HOME   |     CALENDARS    |   ABOUT THE RIVER      |    ABOUT THE COMMISSION     |    DREDGING   |   GREENWAYS     
URBAN INFILL PLANS      |     STORMWATER RETROFITTING     |       MINUTES OF MEETINGS   |    LINKS